With the festive season behind us, life on the KZN North Coast is settling back into its familiar rhythm. However, retailers, business owners and service providers are still reflecting on what proved to be a strong holiday period for the region.
“What an absolutely outstanding season on the North Coast,” says businessman Fabien Durocher-Yvon, owner of Conchilla, Fiamma Grill, Concha Café and Coco De Mer Boutique Hotel. “December delivered excellent weather, incredible energy and visitors who truly embraced the full North Coast experience. We were operating at capacity most evenings across all our properties, and it felt like a real breakthrough season that sets a positive tone for the years ahead. If this is the benchmark, the future looks busy, optimistic and full of momentum. It was a significant win for the region.”
Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) precinct manager Thierry Leclazio agrees, noting that this was one of the busiest festive seasons Ballito has experienced in recent years. “We had a very successful holiday season and, despite the high volumes of both holidaymakers and locals, the North Coast remained largely incident-free throughout the period,” says Leclazio.
Retail performance across the region also reflected strong seasonal activity, with Ballito Junction Mall recording close to 1.4 million visitors during December alone.
Ballito Junction CEO Geraldine Jorgensen says the mall saw a steady flow of local shoppers alongside national and international visitors. She credits the collective efforts of retailers, service providers and law enforcement for ensuring a safe, pleasant and well-managed shopping experience throughout the festive period.
Long-standing local businesses also benefited from the sustained activity. Groundswell Surf and Skate, a locally owned business founded more than 27 years ago on the North Coast, reported a strong season supported by consistent trading throughout the year.
“While the festive period was fantastic, retail remained steady throughout 2025,” says owner Bernice Hutchison. “We are grateful for the continued support of both locals and holidaymakers, as well as the growing number of international visitors choosing our region.”
Together, these indicators point to a region that is not only thriving during peak holiday periods, but continuing to build confidence, resilience and long-term economic momentum.
